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National Research Council Reports Women Faring Better in Hiring and Tenure in Mathematics

June 10, 2009

Although women are still underrepresented in the applicant pool for faculty positions in mathematics, science, and engineering at major research universities, those who do apply are interviewed and hired at rates equal to or higher than those for men, an exhaustive report from the National Research Council concludes.

National surveys of faculty showed, for example, that women accounted for 28% of interviewees for math positions at colleges and universities—and received 32% of job offers. These percentages also held true for tenured math positions, even though women made up only 20% of applicants.

The surveys of tenure-track and tenured faculty in six disciplines—mathematics, biology, chemistry, civil engineering, electrical engineering, and physics—at 89 institutions across the United States, were conducted in 2004 and 2005.

"Our data suggest that, on average, institutions have become more effective in using the means under their direct control to promote faculty diversity, including hiring and promoting women and providing resources," saidClaude Canizares (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). "Nevertheless, we also find evidence for stubborn and persistent underrepresentation of women at all faculty ranks."

"Overall the newly released data indicate important progress, and signal to both young men and especially to young women that what had been the status quo at research-intensive universities is changing," saidSally Shaywitz (Yale University). "There is a movement toward more gender equity than noted in previous reports or often publicly appreciated. At the same time, the findings show that we are not there yet."